Best Strong Arm Poems
there is a river in each soul
flowing smoothly over sand
bubbling over rocky beds
until each living drop falls
Daniel ran through my river
second chance at love
flowing on gentle currents in my heart
waking emotions that lingered in limbo
lily drifting with tide
caught by the strong arm of a tree
until Daniel disappeared in dark water
dam broke; tears surged
lily cascades in a Niagara of tears
Daniel’s soul rises
tears chose to descend
the day he drowned
tears hold power, life
control their own release
drought consumes the heart
why can’t I release Daniel?
By Carolyn Devonshire
Dedicated to Daniel Sammons, a descendent of Daniel Boone, who proposed the
day before he drowned.
Written for HG’s “Personify a Tear” contest.
Categories:
strong arm, lost love
Form:
Free verse
The gifted house and the ghost of his Grandmother trapped him. Her presence clung with the leftover nicotine to the walls of every room. A childless marriage and a rancid divorce left its bile in the scum atop the kitchen counters—rust-rings on the bathroom’s porcelain. The horse chestnut tree outside the door stood as an overt warning, pelting anyone trying to enter. As his lover, I disregarded it.
wisteria
uproots the moss-laced lawn:
a pet’s gravestone
With steel wool and a strong arm, I whitewashed the house. Grandmother’s spirit smiled in the spring when new bulbs rose. But, the antique cannon in the front hall still aimed at the door. The man was too used to his darkness. Love was not enough.
trespassers
are shot on sight:
empties on the stoop
Published by KYSO Flash 2015
Categories:
strong arm, lost love,
Form:
Haibun
If I could write a song for you
My fingers start to see
That eyes alone are not enough:
I'd need your melody
If I could waltz you in my arms
My heart would thump with joy
Inside a thousand butterflies
Would find a lovesick boy
If I could sing into your heart
My voice would tell you so
In lyrics of my endless love
I’d never let you go
If I could hold you tenderly
Embrace you in romance
No music would we ever need
Through every step we dance
If I could guide your feet to mine
Your waist in my strong arm
My mouth would sing against your lips
A song so soft and warm
If I could hear your lovely voice
Sing around my soul
In that melodic tone I know
I'd feel happy and whole
If I could do most anything
With anyone at all
I’d give myself to only you
Within your heart I’d fall
For this you see is now my dream
If it would just come true
I’d sing these words for all to hear
I’m so in love with you
***
February 3, 2017
Chris Green
Darren White
Categories:
strong arm, dance, happy, love, music,
Form:
Rhyme
Welcome me to the heaven of your manhood
That I shall sing romantic tales to your ears in sweet mood
Come to my breast and take my milk as wine
That no other visit would shake my feet as thine
Embrace my body from crown to my feet
For I shall give my best,my best be your ever best
Kiss my honey tasting ruby lips
Which shall redden your heart and comfort your chest
Put a young strong arm around my waist
Oh prince charming my bed had long await
Curse my eyes to awake at night
That such night shall be called a night
Let the music of my bed play smooth and silent
That I shall moan in tongue so calm and quiet
If a night is not enough to feed your pleasure
Then come to my bed in nights of countless measure
Give me love such love I have been missing
Make me a woman prince charming
Categories:
strong arm, love, romantic love,
Form:
His strong arm wraps her frail, labored shoulders
Together they whisper against the clear, glass wall
All pain has passed, and they behold an answered prayer
A glorious blossom that has been entrusted to their hands
The child in the bed has a smile of morning
They know but still they ask – Is she the one?
The voices crouch upon the bedroom windowsill
looking in from the night with curious eyes
Their fairy hands clasped together as though in prayer
Watching the rosy dreams that float above the girl
whose sleepy sighs breathe through the room like a song
With pressed fingers, they think – Is she the one?
He holds the black and white photo with his fingertips
as though when touched with flesh it might fade away
like the ending of a perfect dream, that lasts, in memory
yet hangs like aurora lights – there but not there.
Raven-black eyes kiss the sweet face in the picture
and written on his sighing lips – Is she the one?
She is like a willow, he, the poet resting in her shade
Bound with much more than two golden rings
It is long since they have given oaths of eternal love
But not once have their hearts stepped away from each other
With eyes made one they watch their child wreathed in lilies
Unspoken are their words – Is she the one?
He has been at the bedside for the past ten days
He has been beside her for the past fifty years
Wrinkled hand holds wrinkled hand, together tender
The sweet face, now lined and creased, is more than beautiful
He remembers the old picture, the love-wrought words
A smile recalls them – Is she the one?
Above them, unseen, the voices have returned
The slender lights that have always watched her
through the years from the beginning, and now at the end
Their eyes are wet, but they have come to fetch the soul,
her innocent heart to take away in their fairy hands
Like music are their words – Is she the one?
Categories:
strong arm, daughter, death, devotion, family,
Form:
Weary and wounded
I hear His comforting voice;
And feel His strong arm holding me.
I hear Him saying to me…..keep going my child,
I am with you….oh what a difference He makes
In my life…..in fact if He were not here with me;
Then definitely I could not go on.
I hear Him in the midnight hour, and all through out
The day……He keeps on saying to me….keep going
My child, the prize is at the end…..the end is not death
But the life giving flow of the abundant river of God….
Flowing out of your belly….yes I hear Him saying….give
Out to others words of hope and comfort so that others
Too will hear and find help in their time of need…..He is
Speaking to you…….will you hear Him ?
I hear Him!
Categories:
strong arm, inspirational
Form:
Pastoral
That summer night we raised our tent
beneath the moonlit, star-filled sky.
A day of hiking we had spent
along Australian trails nearby.
All settled in, did not take long-
exhausted from the rugged hike,
to fall asleep with nature's song
of creature sounds soft and ghost-like.
Before too long- asleep I sensed
my love's strong arm, reach over me.
I cuddled closer, leaned against-
but soon was pressured horribly.
Around my neck it strangled tight
I could not make a single sound;
such inner fear and total fright
when 'round my torso it then wound.
My arms were trapped, what can I do?
How is this happening and why?
I can't believe my life is through
beneath this moonlit, star-filled sky.
At once I felt strong hands tug hard
but could not free the tightened grip.
My life was ebbing, full breaths barred,
and into death, I'd surely slip.
My husband screamed, "I've got my knife,"
as tighter curled its hold on me.
"Oh, God, please save my darling wife-
from this huge monster, set her free!"
The python snake much tighter grasped-
above, a knife all set to fall!
At once I sat right up and gasped!
"Thank God! A nightmare! That was all!"
September 14, 2016
Premier Contest: The Snake Charmer
Sponsor: Kai Michael Neumann
Categories:
strong arm, fear, night, scary,
Form:
Quatrain
There is a lot of responsibility for a shortstop.
Many times, I field the ball on the hop.
As sure as I breathe and am alive,
I often have to snare a hard line drive.
I become a catalyst for a double play.
We must keep the opponents from scoring and save the day.
I field the ball up the middle and throw to first base.
There is no time to think, but react in haste.
To get the runner out, I have no time to waste.
I must get the ball to first with a strong arm.
That way, I can protect our lead from harm.
I must be the team’s wizard with the glove.
It is hard work, but a labor of love.
I lead my team out on the field each day.
When it comes to winning, I must always find a way.
Categories:
strong arm, sports, work, time,
Form:
Rhyme
The world is shaking with a voice like thunder
A unified declaration
We must build
Somewhere there is an opening
A gap in the noisy tumult
Clear air. No smog to block the smiling moon
Or lights to challenge the night
Just passing clouds
We build our cities to the sky
We make our livestock in a factory
The strong arm of progress flexes boldly
Our space is narrowed
As the offspring of the earth beat down what's left
A wise man stretches forth his ears to the sound of raindrops on the soil
His eyes seek out the pack of wolves
And the school of fish
He fills his lungs with fresh air from a fading supply
He looks to the untouched wilderness
And he remembers who we were
Kyle Ezra Kriticos
Categories:
strong arm, life, peace,
Form:
Free verse
Night time rest
I lie there counting the stars
as they glint in the Heavens
Desperate to sleep
exhausted tears streak streams
from cheek to pillow
Not that I feel sorry for myself
just simply worn out
in need of short respite
Scared to try to move
as nightly rigamortis sets in
but need is there to move
to free the stiffness
work through extreme pain
to break the grip
of thise imprisoned bones
to free the body
and bring short relief
that I might make routine bathroom trip
before it is too late
and further humiliation takes hold
Once I can bend and straighten legs freely
I can shuffle around suffice to sit
then reassure myself
just enough to feel able to cope
To push and put one foot in front of the other
Force this swollen crumbling body beyond the pain
required to move from sitting to standing
to start to brave the world once more
So I can live life to its fullest
The calm tends to come after the storm
but the peace that follows can be short lived
never knowing when the winds direction will turn on its heal
bringing tornados and lightening strikes
to rack tortures torment through my spine and legs
where this disabling degenerative disease desires domination
Red lipstick disguise fools those around me
They don't see me during these difficult times
the occasions I let only those closest to me near
Times I become almost totally reliant
Like so many mornings when I've no choice
but grapple between the raise bar
and my husbands strong arm
to standing stooped position
Flattened hands search the fronts of wardrobe doors
sliding upwards as I straighten up
taking crutches one in each hand
I prop myself strongly
then carefully I step slowly
and with each movement new release
begins to fall fresh upon me
for but short time
until the hours play same record over
or the devils bow plays fiddle
with the nerves in my body for encore
Categories:
strong arm, health, life, recovery from...body,
Form:
Free verse
Michael Brown's mother and family have my condolences, but the media CNN
etc. have painted him to be this innocent 18 year old that did nothing wrong, 10
minutes before he was stopped and questioned by Officer Wilson he performed a
strong arm robbery of a store taking $60.00 worth of cigars, when the clerk tried to
to stop him Brown shoved him into a display stand, and when the clerk tried to follow
him out the door Brown turned and lunged at the clerk daring him to stop him.
Officer Wilson's side of the story through a friend was that Brown resisted arrest and
when he followed after Brown when he tried to run was that Brown turned and said
you aren't going to shoot me, and then he bum-rushed Wilson! Now, I'm not saying
that I know exactly what happened in Brown's confrontation with Wilson, but the
store robbery doesn't paint a picture of an innocent teenager, also, an 18 year old is
an adult by law!
Categories:
strong arm, truth, voice, words, world,
Form:
Narrative
Take carnations
tender child
till the hand
hardens
holding thorns
beneath petals
without crying
chasing kites
butterflies
rainbows colors
dazzling
from
dawn splendor
to the scarlet
gold horizon
dreaming castles
treasure islands
pearls and corals
sparkling
juggling stars
with cherubs
smiling
on moon slice
gliding
through
snow lit
Christmas
galaxies
blue and red
shimmering
till clock hands
on rose stop
thorns of time
piercing
time to pay
love with love
with
or no
applause
melting ego
in us ocean
in God's help
trusting
when too heavy
grown for parents
His strong arm
holding you
spreading
charity
lighting path
with God's love
pace and joy
unending
Gold Trophy Winner: Brian Strand-Your Option-2/2/24
Fourth Place Winer: Brian Strand Premiere 1204-3/30/23
First Place Winner: Brian Strand-All Yours-2/4/21
First Place Winner: Brian Strand-All Yours-11/1/20
Fourth Place: Julie Leigh Rodeheaver-Roses And Carnations-10/11/17
Categories:
strong arm, flower,
Form:
Free verse
We stood on a beach of white sand, on a beautiful tropical isle.
I held my daughter's hand in mine. We shared a knowing smile.
There were no words spoken. We knew what was left unsaid.
Our voices surely would've broken, so we shared a hug instead.
No father to walk with her today; no strong arm to keep her steady.
I was the one who'd give her away. "Mom," she said, "I'm ready."
Then we felt a gentle breeze, ruffling the hem of her chiffon dress.
It rustled through palm leaves, soft and sweet as a lover's caress.
An orchestral wedding march became music with each rushing wave.
Romantic lighting from tiki torch, to her groom, my daughter, I gave.
A golden sunset cast its light, as the happy couple whispered, " I do."
It was quite a charming night, beside still waters of turquoise hues.
A moments respite from the fray, I sat with my daughter alone.
"Mom, I wish Dad had been here today." A tear of sorrow was sown.
"So do I, my darling. I miss him, too. Right now he'd be so carefree,
on the dance floor with you. He's not here so come, dance with me."
She wore a smile, for a while, then I saw her walk out the door.
My little girl, no longer a child, said, "Hi Daddy, this is Eleanor."
Time to put away her denial, and whisper her last 'goodbyes.'
Daddy walked her down the aisle, when he sang her lullabies.
~ Internal and Ending Rhyme Schemes ~
There are no rules for the number of lines or syllables per line.
I especially like this double form of rhyming because of its
challenge to rhyme in the middle and at the end of each line.
Example for each verse: a b
a b
c d
c d
Lin Lane ~ Poetry Writing #1 Contest
December 10th 2015
Sponsor ~ Broken Wings
Categories:
strong arm, father daughter, wedding,
Form:
Rhyme
Rondelet: Bad Guy Dope*
See what I said
Head strong arm strong ham-strung bike dope
See what I said
Training ground's where villains are bred
Good guys strain up Sisyphus slope
Bad guys dope down Paris and mope
See what I said
*Please see poem posted on December 31, 2012, titled:
"This Bad Guy World (in all seriousness)"
(c) T. Wignesan, Paris, 2013
Categories:
strong arm, adventure, humorous,
Form:
Epitaph
I have
No memories of last Thanksgiving Day,
Not one! It was the first you know
Without my son.
And yet I cooked and served the meal,
By my own hand,
As delicious , they say, as always
And just as grand.
It was just five years ago,
Another Thanksgiving Day,
We got the call that told us
Their dad had passed away.
I'd gone to bring him home
For just the day.
He was too weak to go but told me
To greet them anyway.
The turkey was in the oven,
There was no way I could stall.
I was making the gravy when
I got the dreaded call.
My son was there with his strong arm,
To help me all the way.
The others too, so loving and dear.
I well remember that day.
I recall how they did all the work
And made me rest.
Even my great-grandchildren
Passed the test.
But last Thanksgiving day,
My son no longer there.
The others thought perhaps,
I'd had time to repair.
February to November,
With nine months to find my way,
I was still on autopilot
On last Thanksgiving day.
Categories:
strong arm, memory, thanksgiving day,
Form:
Rhyme